In the 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the results revealed a surprising leader of the energy efficiency pack — Boston.
How did Boston become such a front runner in energy efficiency? Mayor Thomas M Menino claims that the local government’s firm commitment to energy efficiency is a smart step to improving the way of life in Boston and around the world – and one that needed taking, because it was a natural way for the city to cut costs.
So how can Canadian cities learn from Boston's commitment to energy efficiency? Here, the city shares some of its top tips…
1. Boston Mayor Thomas M Menino urges that local city governments should lead by example by improving energy efficiency first within the government infrastructure, and then expanding outwards to local businesses. After all, who would want to listen to a government that has not made the commitment first?
2. The first step is to adopt energy-saving goals that can be actively tracked and communicated to the public.
3. Once energy efficiency has been adopted in government buildings, expand to new and existing buildings throughout the city. The Boston Mayor recommends offering a partnership with energy and water utilities to promote and expand an efficiency programs.
4. After working on the buildings around the city, only then should the city government focus on policies and programs to lower energy use in public transportation.
5. Adopting an energy efficient policy can help a city save money, create jobs and protect the environment.